Trump Directs EPA to Loosen Rules on Ethanol in Gasoline

President Trump has directed the EPA to loosen restrictions on the ethanol mix in summer gasoline, a move that could potentially increase smog and almost certainly provide a boost for corn farmers. U.S. ethanol, primarily derived from corn, is an octane-boosting additive that oil refiners must mix up to 10 percent in each gallon in order to comply with the Renewable Fuels Standard. Trump is not expected to change this law, which was adopted in 2007 and set a target of 36 billion gallons of ethanol by 2022.